All about the ‘Palworld vs Pokémon’ video game controversy

Since its release, Palworld has been accused of ripping the Pokémon video games and adding a darker twist. Here is everything to know about the Palworld vs Pokemon controvery.

Is Palworld a version of Pokémon with guns? Or is it Pokémon with a side of The Legend of Zelda? Or a mixture of Pokémon, Minecraft, PUBG, Fortnite, Valheim and every other online multiplayer video game?

Ever since its release, Palworld has been surrounded by controversy and when something gets people talking this hard, it is bound to sell well. For a video game coming from a small indie developer, Palworld has gone on to be one of the most downloaded video games on Steam in recent times, second only to the likes of PUBG and Counter-Strike-2. This is despite Palworld being available as a free-to-play title on Xbox Game Pass.

Even if you keep yourself familiar with the world of video games, Palworld still comes across as a surprise. Developed by Pockepair, this video game has got the attention of everyone who grew up with the Pokemon games, web shows and movies from yesteryears. Many are calling it a blatant ripoff of the Pokemon video game while others are praising the developers for pushing forward a rather stale concept that Nintendo hasn’t done justice to in recent years.

If you are seeking clarity, join us as we explore everything about Palworld and whether it threatens the Pokémon franchise in the future.

Decoding the ‘Palworld’ vs ‘Pokémon’ controversy

Palworld, in essence, is a darker take on the concept of Pokémon. While Nintendo’s creations have always treaded on the family-friendly path by introducing Pokemons as adorable pocket monsters, Palworld takes a more grim approach by highlighting the concept of poaching and dogfights.

Simply put, Palworld is a grown-up version of the Pokémon video game series where the concept of love and care exists alongside exploitation, decay and death.

While the concept is unique, it doesn’t take a specialist to decipher that most of Palworld’s Pals (the pocketable creatures) are largely inspired by Pokémon characters. Those who have got the game have found character references to popular Pokémon characters. You capture these Pals by throwing a Pal Sphere (just like a Pokeball) and you carry them along for battles. That’s where the controversy steps in. And there’s more.

Palworld’s gameplay concept and design

As the player, you have to explore a mysterious island full of Pals, which are creatures of various shapes and sizes possessing unique special powers. For survival, you have to catch these Pals and use them for battles against enemies and other players (if you are in the multiplayer lobbies). Simultaneously, you can also enslave your Pals to build and maintain your base. You can also direct them to mine and craft other materials.

However, unlike Pokemon, you also get to have fighting gear like crossbows and assault rifles. Yes, you can shoot down wild Pals and poachers with weapons in Palworld.

This is where Palword starts to differ from Pokemon. In your captivity, you can either choose to love and care for your Pals, thereby nurturing a healthy environment for your creatures. Or, you can choose to exploit your Pals by making them work to death, or eat them for survival.

The Palworld vs Pokemon chasm grows wider as you can use Pals as vehicles to traverse the open-world map or use them to attack human poachers. You can even sneak into wildlife sanctuaries and capture the rarest Pals for your collection.

What’s even more surprising (and probably fun) is the ability to play with the genetics of Pals and breed new variants of these imaginary creatures!

Palworld truly seems like a version of Pokemon meant for grown-ups! As long-time fans, players and critics of Pokemon say, Palworld is what Pokemon should have evolved into.

Palworld’s availability and price

Despite all the controversy, Palworld sounds like a video game you need to try. If you game on your PC and are subscribed to the Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can download and play Palworld for free. Similarly, if you possess an Xbox Series X or a Series S console, you can access it for free on the Xbox Game Pass.

Meanwhile, Palworld is also available on Steam for INR  1,170.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Pocketpaid via Steam)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What are the similarities between Pokemon and Palworld?
Critics say that Palworld borrows its gameplay concept and some of the characters from the Pokemon video game series.

This article originally appeared on Augustman India.